Drawer capable of being automatically opened and closed, refrigerator and method for automatically opening and closing drawer

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of refrigerator, and discloses a drawer capable of automatic opening and closing, a refrigerator and an automatic opening and closing method of the drawer. In the drawer capable of automatic opening and closing, the drawer is slidably arranged on a frame body; a rack is arranged on the drawer; a power mechanism is arranged on the frame body, in which a planetary gear train is arranged in a housing; an output end of a transmission gear set is engaged with the rack; a power member is arranged in the housing, and the power member drives the planetary gear train to rotate between a first position and a second position; when the planetary gear train is located at the first position, an output end of the planetary gear train can be engaged with the transmission gear set to drive the drawer to move outward; when the planetary gear train is located at the second position, the output end of the planetary gear train can be engaged with the transmission gear set to drive the drawer to move inward; and when the planetary gear train is located at a third position between the first position and the second position, the planetary gear train is separated from the transmission gear set. The above arrangement can realize automatic opening and closing of the drawer, and make the manual opening and closing process more smooth.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and more particularly to an automatically opening and closing drawer, a refrigerator, and a method for automatically opening and closing the drawer. Background Technology

[0002] Home appliances are developing towards intelligence and humanization. Existing refrigerator freezer drawers are generally opened manually. However, modern refrigerators are generally large in size, and the drawers are also large in volume. If there are many items in the drawers, the process of opening and closing the drawers will require a lot of force. For the weak or children, it is difficult or even impossible to open or close the drawers, which can no longer meet the needs of consumers.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need to research drawers that can open and close automatically to solve the problem of difficulty for the weak or children in opening and closing refrigerator drawers. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatically opening and closing drawer, a refrigerator, and an automatic drawer opening and closing method to solve the problem of difficulty in opening and closing refrigerator drawers for the physically weak or children.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an automatically opening and closing drawer for use inside a refrigerator, the automatically opening and closing drawer comprising:

[0007] Frame;

[0008] A drawer, which is slidably mounted on the frame;

[0009] A rack, wherein the rack is disposed in the drawer;

[0010] A power mechanism, located on the frame, comprises:

[0011] case;

[0012] A planetary gear train, wherein the planetary gear train is disposed within the housing;

[0013] A transmission gear set, wherein the output end of the transmission gear set meshes with the rack;

[0014] A power component, located within the housing, drives the planetary gear train to rotate between a first position and a second position when rotating forward or backward. When the planetary gear train is in the first position, its output end engages with the transmission gear set, causing the drawer to move outward. When the planetary gear train is in the second position, its output end engages with the transmission gear set, causing the drawer to move inward. When the planetary gear train is in a third position, between the first and second positions, it disengages from the transmission gear set.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the planetary gear train includes:

[0016] The planetary support is rotatably mounted within the housing.

[0017] A sun gear, which is rotatably disposed within the housing and is connected to the power component via a transmission connection;

[0018] The first planetary gear is rotatably mounted on the planetary support and is connected to the sun gear via a transmission.

[0019] The transmission gear set includes a driven gear rotatably disposed on the housing and a first intermediate gear and a second intermediate gear meshing with the driven gear. The driven gear can drive the rack to move.

[0020] When the planetary gear system is in the first position or the second position, the first planetary gear can mesh with the first intermediate gear or the second intermediate gear and drive the drawer to move inward or outward; when the planetary gear system is in the third position, the first planetary gear is separated from both the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear.

[0021] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the first planetary gear is provided with a first friction part, and the housing is provided with a first boss, with the first friction part abutting against the first boss.

[0022] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the first boss is made of an elastic material.

[0023] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the power mechanism further includes a first stop assembly and / or a second stop assembly. When the planetary gear train rotates from the second position to the first position, the first stop assembly prevents the planetary support from continuing to rotate; when the planetary gear train rotates from the first position to the second position, the second stop assembly prevents the planetary support from continuing to rotate.

[0024] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the power mechanism further includes a position detection component for detecting the position of the planetary support.

[0025] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the position detection component includes a light-blocking component and a photoelectric sensor. The light-blocking component is disposed on the planetary support, and the photoelectric sensor is disposed on the housing. When the planetary support is located in at least one of the first position, the second position, or the third position, the light-blocking component can block the photoelectric sensor.

[0026] or

[0027] The position detection component includes a magnet and a Hall sensor. The magnet is disposed on the planetary support, and the Hall sensor is disposed on the housing. When the planetary support is located in at least one of the first position, the second position, or the third position, the magnet can be detected by the Hall sensor.

[0028] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the power mechanism further includes an angle detection component, which is used to detect the rotation direction and angle of the driven gear.

[0029] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the angle detection component includes an annular light-blocking component and two photoelectric sensors; the annular light-blocking component is sleeved on the outer connecting shaft, and the annular light-blocking component includes a mounting ring and a plurality of light-blocking plates evenly distributed around the mounting ring; the two photoelectric sensors are spaced apart on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft, and the light-blocking plates can block the photoelectric sensors;

[0030] or

[0031] The angle detection component includes a multi-stage magnetic ring and two Hall sensors; the multi-stage magnetic ring is sleeved on an outer connecting shaft, and the two Hall sensors are spaced apart on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft, and the Hall sensors can detect each magnetic pole on the multi-stage magnetic ring.

[0032] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the transmission gear set further includes an overload protector, which is located between the drawer and the power component.

[0033] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the planetary gear train includes:

[0034] The planetary support is rotatably mounted within the housing.

[0035] A sun gear, which is rotatably disposed within the housing and is connected to the power component via a transmission connection;

[0036] The second and third planetary gears are both rotatably mounted on the planetary support and are both connected to the sun gear via a transmission.

[0037] The transmission gear set includes a driven gear rotatably disposed on the housing, and the driven gear can drive the rack to move;

[0038] When the planetary gear system is in the first position or the second position, the second planetary gear or the third planetary gear meshes with the driven gear and drives the drawer to move inward or outward; when the planetary gear system is in the third position, both the second planetary gear and the third planetary gear are disengaged from the driven gear.

[0039] As a preferred technical solution for an automatically opening and closing drawer, the housing includes a bottom shell and a cover, the cover being disposed on the housing and forming a mounting cavity, and the power mechanism further includes a sealing component for preventing moisture from entering the mounting cavity.

[0040] Secondly, the present invention provides a refrigerator including a drawer that can be automatically opened and closed as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0041] Thirdly, the present invention provides an automatic drawer opening and closing method, comprising the following steps: driving a planetary gear train to rotate between a first position and a second position by a power component; when the planetary gear train is in the first position, it can mesh with the transmission gear set and drive the drawer to move outward; when the planetary gear train is in the second position, it can mesh with the transmission gear set and drive the drawer to move inward; when the planetary gear train is in the third position, it disengages from the transmission gear set, at which point the drawer can be manually pushed and pulled freely.

[0042] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0043] This invention provides an automatically opening and closing drawer, a refrigerator, and a method for automatically opening and closing the drawer. The automatically opening and closing drawer includes a frame, a drawer, a rack, and a power mechanism. The drawer is slidably mounted on the frame; the rack is mounted on the drawer; the power mechanism is mounted on the frame and includes a housing, a planetary gear train, a transmission gear set, and a power component. The planetary gear train is located within the housing; the output end of the transmission gear set meshes with the rack; the power component is located within the housing and drives the planetary gear train to rotate between a first position and a second position. When the planetary gear train is in the first position, the output end of the planetary gear train meshes with the transmission gear set and moves the drawer outward; when the planetary gear train is in the second position, the output end of the planetary gear train meshes with the transmission gear set and moves the drawer inward; when the planetary gear train is in a third position between the first and second positions, the planetary gear train separates from the transmission gear set.

[0044] With the above settings, the refrigerator drawers can be automatically opened or closed. When the drawer needs to be opened, the planetary gear system in the power mechanism moves to the first position, and the output end of the planetary gear system can mesh with the transmission gear set, driving the drawer to move outward. When the drawer needs to be closed, the planetary gear system in the power mechanism moves to the second position, and the output end of the planetary gear system can mesh with the transmission gear set, driving the drawer to move inward. In addition, when the planetary gear system is in the third position, between the first and second positions, the planetary gear system is separated from the transmission gear set. At this time, during the manual opening or closing of the drawer, the planetary gear system and the power component will not generate resistance, making the drawer opening and closing smoother. Attached Figure Description

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an automatically opening and closing drawer in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the power mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the power mechanism from a first-view perspective in an embodiment of the present invention, including a Hall sensor;

[0048] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the power mechanism from a second perspective in an embodiment of the present invention, including a Hall sensor;

[0049] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the power mechanism from a third-view perspective in an embodiment of the present invention, including photoelectric sensors;

[0050] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the power mechanism from a fourth perspective in an embodiment of the present invention, including a photoelectric sensor;

[0051] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first planetary gear in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] In the picture:

[0053] 100. Frame; 200. Drawers;

[0054] 1. Gear rack;

[0055] 2. Power mechanism;

[0056] 21. Shell; 211. Bottom shell; 212. Cover; 213. First boss; 214. First stop; 215. Second stop;

[0057] 22. Planetary gear train; 221. Planetary support; 2211. First limiting part; 2212. Second limiting part; 222. Sun gear; 223. First planetary gear; 2231. First friction part;

[0058] 23. Transmission gear set; 231. Driven gear; 232. First gear; 233. Second gear; 234. Third gear; 235. External connecting shaft; 236. First intermediate gear; 237. Second intermediate gear;

[0059] 24. Power component; 25. Position detection component; 251. Magnet; 252. 262. Hall sensor; 253. Light blocking component; 254. 264. Photoelectric sensor; 26. Angle detection component; 261. Multi-stage magnetic ring; 263. Annular light blocking component; 2631. Mounting ring; 2632. Light blocking plate; 27. Overload protector; 28. Sealing component. Detailed Implementation

[0060] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0061] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The terms "first position" and "second position" refer to two different positions. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "under," and "below" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0062] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0063] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0064] Example 1

[0065] like Figure 1-7 As shown, this embodiment provides an automatically opening and closing drawer for use in a refrigerator. The automatically opening and closing drawer includes a frame 100, a drawer 200, a rack 1, and a power mechanism 2. The drawer 200 is slidably mounted on the frame 100; the rack 1 is mounted on the drawer 200; the power mechanism 2 is mounted on the frame 100 and includes a housing 21, a planetary gear train 22, a transmission gear set 23, and a power component 24. The planetary gear train 22 is located within the housing 21; the output end of the transmission gear set 23 meshes with the rack 1; the power component 24 can be a motor and is located within the housing 21. Inside the body 21, the power component 24, when rotating forward or reverse, drives the planetary gear train 22 to rotate between a first position and a second position. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the first position, its output end meshes with the transmission gear set 23, causing the drawer 200 to move outward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the second position, its output end meshes with the transmission gear set 23, causing the drawer 200 to move inward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the third position, between the first and second positions, it disengages from the transmission gear set 23. Preferably, the frame 100 has a power mechanism 2 on each side of the drawer 200, and racks 1 are provided on both sides of the drawer 200. The two power mechanisms 2 drive the racks 1, making the opening and closing of the drawer 200 smoother.

[0066] In this embodiment, with the above-described configuration, the refrigerator drawer 200 can be automatically opened or closed. When the refrigerator drawer 200 needs to be opened, the planetary gear train 22 in the power mechanism 2 moves to the first position, and the output end of the planetary gear train 22 meshes with the transmission gear set 23, driving the drawer 200 to move outward. When the refrigerator drawer 200 needs to be closed, the planetary gear train 22 in the power mechanism 2 moves to the second position, and the output end of the planetary gear train 22 meshes with the transmission gear set 23, driving the drawer 200 to move inward. In addition, when the planetary gear train 22 is in the third position between the first and second positions, the planetary gear train 22 is separated from the transmission gear set 23. At this time, during the process of manually opening or closing the drawer 200, the planetary gear train 22 and the power component 24 will not generate resistance, making the opening and closing of the drawer 200 smoother and less strenuous, which is beneficial to improving the user experience.

[0067] In this embodiment, optionally, the planetary gear train 22 includes a planetary carrier 221, a sun gear 222, and a first planetary gear 223. The planetary carrier 221 is rotatably disposed within the housing 21; the sun gear 222 is rotatably disposed within the housing 21 and is connected to the power component 24; the first planetary gear 223 is rotatably disposed on the planetary carrier 221 and is connected to the sun gear 222. The transmission gear set 23 includes a driven gear 231 rotatably disposed on the housing 21 and a first intermediate gear 236 and a second intermediate gear 237 meshing with the driven gear 231. The driven gear 231 can drive the rack 1 to move. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the first position or the second position, the first planetary gear 223 can mesh with the first intermediate gear 236 or the second intermediate gear 237 and drive the drawer 200 to move inward or outward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the third position, the first planetary gear 223 is separated from both the first intermediate gear 236 and the second intermediate gear 237. Optionally, the transmission gear set 23 further includes a first gear 232, a second gear 233, and a third gear 234; wherein, the first gear 232 is rotatably disposed inside the housing 21 and meshes with the driven gear 231; the second gear 233 is rotatably disposed inside the housing 21 and meshes with the first gear 232; the third gear 234 is disposed outside the housing 21 and is coaxially connected to the second gear 233 through an external connecting shaft 235 passing through the housing 21, and the third gear 234 directly meshes with the rack 1.

[0068] Optionally, the sun gear 222 rotates clockwise, i.e., counterclockwise, and drives the planetary support 221 to rotate to the first position, i.e. Figure 3 In the position shown, if the power component 24 continues to rotate, it can open the drawer 200. The sun gear 222 reverses direction, causing the planetary support 221 to rotate to the second position, which can then close the drawer 200.

[0069] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, in order for the planetary support 221 to rotate smoothly between the first and second positions during the rotation of the sun gear 222, the first planetary gear 223 is provided with a first friction part 2231, and the housing 21 is provided with a first boss 213. The first friction part 2231 abuts against the first boss 213. With the above arrangement, during the rotation of the sun gear 222, it will drive the first planetary gear 223 to rotate. Due to the abutting relationship between the first friction part 2231 and the first boss 213, the first planetary gear 223 will revolve around the axis of the sun gear 222 while rotating on its own axis, thereby driving the planetary support 221 to rotate from the second position to the first position. Specifically, the first friction part 2231 is an annular friction block, which is concentrically arranged with the first planetary gear 223, and the outer diameter of the annular friction block is smaller than the outer diameter of the first planetary gear 223. The above size arrangement helps to reduce the footprint of the power mechanism 2.

[0070] Preferably, the first protrusion 213 is made of an elastic material. The use of an elastic material for the first protrusion 213 makes it easier to control the distance between the first protrusion 213 and the first friction part 2231. As long as a tight fit is maintained, friction between the first protrusion 213 and the first friction part 2231 can be guaranteed. Furthermore, the elastic material of the first protrusion 213 allows it to wrap around the first friction part 2231 during contact, and compared to linear contact between hard materials, the larger contact area ensures greater friction between them.

[0071] The first boss 213 can be made of wear-resistant elastic material such as tendon or rubber.

[0072] Combination Figure 4As shown, in order to ensure that the first planetary gear 223, which continues to rotate in both the first and second positions of the planetary carrier 221, can better transmit power, in this embodiment, the power mechanism 2 may optionally include a first stop assembly and / or a second stop assembly. When the planetary gear train 22 rotates from the second position to the first position, the first stop assembly prevents the planetary carrier 221 from continuing to rotate; when the planetary gear train 22 rotates from the first position to the second position, the second stop assembly prevents the planetary carrier 221 from continuing to rotate. Specifically, the first stop assembly includes a first limiting part 2211 disposed on the planetary carrier 221 and a first stop part 214 disposed on the housing 21. When the planetary carrier 221 rotates to the first position, the first limiting part 2211 abuts against the first stop part 214, at which time the first planetary gear 223 continues to rotate and transmits power to the first intermediate gear 236. The second stop assembly also includes a second limiting part 2212 disposed on the planetary support 221 and a second stop part 215 disposed on the housing 21. When the planetary support 221 rotates to the second position, the second limiting part 2212 abuts against the second stop part 215. At this time, the first planetary gear 223 continues to rotate and transmits power to the second intermediate gear 237.

[0073] Furthermore, in order to determine the position of the planetary support 221, in this embodiment, the power mechanism 2 may optionally include a position detection component 25, which is used to detect the position of the planetary support 221.

[0074] In one embodiment of this invention, the position detection component 25 specifically includes a magnet 251 disposed on the planetary support 221 and a Hall sensor 252 disposed on the housing 21. When the planetary support 221 is in at least one of the first, second, or third positions, the magnet 251 can be detected by the Hall sensor 252. The circuit board is disposed on the housing 21, and the Hall sensor 252 is disposed on the circuit board. This configuration enables real-time determination of the specific position of the planetary support 221, thereby facilitating the determination of the rotation direction and angle of the planetary support 221 after the drawer 200 is opened, ensuring that the first planetary gear 223 separates from the first intermediate gear 236 and the second intermediate gear 237. Specifically, after the drawer 200 is opened, the planetary support 221 needs to rotate slightly in the opposite direction to the direction in which the drawer 200 was opened, so that the first planetary gear 223 separates from both the first intermediate gear 236 and the second intermediate gear 237. Optionally, the magnet 251 is disposed on the upper support of the planetary support 221. Preferably, the magnet 251 is disposed at one end of the connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is integrally formed with the upper support. In one embodiment of this invention, two Hall sensors 252 are provided, respectively disposed at a first position and a second position. When the planetary support 221 is located at the first position or the second position, the magnet 251 can be detected. By detecting the two position points of the planetary support 221 at the first position and the second position, the function of calibrating the position of the planetary support 221 can be realized, while effectively reducing workload, reducing costs, and improving work efficiency. In another embodiment of this invention, one Hall sensor 252 is provided, disposed at a third position. When the planetary support 221 is located at the third position, the magnet 251 can be detected. The end of the connecting rod away from the planetary support 221 is provided with the magnet 251, and the Hall sensor 252 can detect the magnet 251 and generate a sensing signal.

[0075] In another embodiment of this invention, the Hall sensor 252 can be replaced with a photoelectric sensor 254, and the magnet 251 can be replaced with a light-blocking component 253, wherein the light-blocking component 253 can block the photoelectric sensor 254. In this embodiment, the photoelectric sensor 254 has better signal quality, more accurate measurement results, and more stable and reliable performance during use. In addition, the light-blocking component 253 can be a plastic sheet, which has a simple structure, is easy to design, manufacture, and mass-produce, and has stable and reliable quality.

[0076] Of course, it should be noted that the power mechanism 2 also includes a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the power component 24 and the Hall sensor. After receiving the sensing signal, the controller can determine the specific position of the planetary support 221. After the action of opening or closing the drawer 200 is completed, the power component 24 can be controlled to rotate forward or backward by a preset angle, thereby driving the planetary support 221 from the first position or the second position to the middle position, i.e., the third position. It should be noted that the opening or closing of the drawer 200 may be manually operated.

[0077] After the drawer 200 is manually opened or closed, the specific position of the drawer 200 needs to be sensed by the controller for subsequent automated control. To this end, in this embodiment, the power mechanism 2 may optionally include an angle detection component 26, which is used to detect the rotation direction and angle of the driven gear 231.

[0078] In one embodiment of this example, the angle detection component 26 specifically includes a multi-stage magnetic ring 261 and two Hall sensors 262. The multi-stage magnetic ring 261 is sleeved on the outer connecting shaft 235, and the two Hall sensors 262 are disposed on the circuit board and located on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft 235. Both Hall sensors 262 can detect each magnetic pole on the multi-stage magnetic ring 261. The two Hall sensors 262 are spaced apart to ensure the recognition accuracy of the Hall sensors 262.

[0079] In another embodiment of this invention, the angle detection component 26 includes an annular light-shielding member 263 and two photoelectric sensors 264. The annular light-shielding member 263 is sleeved on the outer connecting shaft 235 and includes a mounting ring 2631 and a plurality of light-shielding plates 2632 evenly distributed around the circumference of the mounting ring 2631. The two photoelectric sensors 264 are spaced apart on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft 235, and the light-shielding plates 2632 can block the photoelectric sensors 264. In this embodiment, the two photoelectric sensors 264 can determine the rotation direction and angle of the outer connecting shaft 235 by the order in which they are blocked by the light-shielding plates 2632, and it is easier to set their positions. For ease of installation, in this embodiment, the mounting ring 2631 and the second gear 233 can be integrally formed. To save costs, in this embodiment, the mounting ring 2631 structure can also be omitted, and the light-shielding plates 2632 can be directly set on the second gear 233.

[0080] The method for determining the rotation angle of the outer connecting shaft 235 by blocking two photoelectric sensors 264 arranged at intervals using a light-shielding plate 2632 is relatively simple, requiring only one photoelectric sensor 264 to record the number of times it is blocked. To achieve this method, in one embodiment, the length of the light-shielding plate 2632 is optionally greater than the distance between two adjacent photoelectric sensors 264. In this embodiment, the rotation direction of the outer connecting shaft 235 can be determined using the above structure. Specifically, for ease of description, the two spaced photoelectric sensors 264 are designated as sensor A and sensor B. There are three initial states between the light-shielding plate 2632 and sensors A and B. First, the light-shielding plate 2632 blocks sensor A but not sensor B. In this state, if sensor B is blocked in the subsequent operation, it indicates that the outer connecting shaft 235 rotates clockwise; if sensor A is not blocked, it indicates that the outer connecting shaft 235 rotates counterclockwise. Secondly, when the light-shielding plate 2632 blocks sensor B but not sensor A, in this state, if sensor A is blocked in the subsequent operation, it indicates that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in reverse; if sensor B is not blocked, it indicates that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in the forward direction. Thirdly, when the light-shielding plate 2632 blocks both sensors A and B, in this state, if sensor B is not blocked in the subsequent operation, it indicates that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in reverse; if sensor A is not blocked, it indicates that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in the forward direction.

[0081] In another embodiment of this example, the length of the light-shielding plate 2632 is less than the distance between two adjacent photoelectric sensors 264. The distance between any two adjacent light-shielding plates 2632 is less than the distance between two photoelectric sensors 264. However, two photoelectric sensors 264 can span multiple light-shielding plates 2632. In other words, there are several light-shielding plates 2632 between two photoelectric sensors 264 at the same time. The distance between two photoelectric sensors 264 is denoted as H, the distance between any two adjacent light-shielding plates 2632 is denoted as L1, and the length of each light-shielding plate 2632 is denoted as L2. (n+1)L1+n*L2)>H>n(L1+L2), where n is a positive integer greater than 2, and n cannot be greater than half of the total number of light-shielding plates 2632. In this embodiment, the rotation direction of the outer connecting shaft 235 can be determined using the above structure. Specifically, for ease of description, two spaced photoelectric sensors 264 are designated as sensor A and sensor B. Regarding the relationship between the light-shielding plate 2632 and sensors A and B, only an initial state is described: both sensors A and B are located within the gaps of the light-shielding plate 2632. In this state, during subsequent operations, if sensor A is blocked first, it indicates that the outer connecting shaft 235 rotates clockwise; if sensor B is blocked first, it indicates that the outer connecting shaft 235 rotates counterclockwise. This arrangement allows for the placement of more light-shielding plates 2632 within a smaller space, thereby achieving more accurate angle measurement. It also accommodates the placement of larger photoelectric sensors 264. Of course, in other embodiments of this example, another initial state can be recorded, namely, the state in which both sensor A and sensor B are blocked by the light-shielding plate 2632. In this state, in the subsequent operations, if sensor A is not blocked first, it means that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in reverse, and if sensor B is not blocked first, it means that the external connecting shaft 235 rotates in the forward direction.

[0082] Of course, the method for Hall sensor 252 to determine the rotation direction of external connecting shaft 235 can be set with reference to photoelectric sensor 264. It should be noted that the detection ranges of the two Hall sensors 252 should not overlap.

[0083] During the automatic opening or closing of the drawer 200, manual opening or closing may occur. To avoid the drawer moving in the opposite direction to or interfering with manual operation, in this embodiment, optionally, the transmission gear set 23 also includes an overload protector 27. The overload protector 27 is configured to stop outputting power when the power output by the transmission gear set 23 exceeds a preset value. Optionally, the overload protector 27 can be located at any position between the drawer 200 and the power component 24. In this embodiment, regarding the structure and specific installation position of the overload protector 27, for example, the overload protector 27 includes an overload gear, which meshes with the first gear 232; the overload gear includes a gear body and an anti-overload component coaxially arranged with the gear body, the anti-overload component includes a chassis and an elastic strip arranged circumferentially on the chassis, the end of the elastic strip is provided with a wedge, the wedge is provided with a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface, and the included angle between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is an obtuse angle, the driven gear 231 is provided with an anti-overload groove, the anti-overload groove is provided with a first side wall and a second side wall, and the included angle between the first side wall and the second side wall is the same as the included angle between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface, multiple anti-overload components are arranged around the axis of the gear body, and multiple anti-overload grooves are provided, and multiple wedges are provided in one-to-one correspondence with multiple anti-overload grooves.

[0084] In another embodiment, optionally, the planetary gear train 22 includes a planetary carrier 221, a sun gear 222, a second planetary gear, and a third planetary gear. The planetary carrier 221 is rotatably disposed within the housing 21; the sun gear 222 is rotatably disposed within the housing 21 and is connected to the power component 24; the second and third planetary gears are both rotatably disposed on the planetary carrier 221 and are both connected to the sun gear 222. The transmission gear set 23 includes a driven gear 231 rotatably disposed on the housing 21, which can drive the rack 1 to move. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the first or second position, the second or third planetary gear meshes with the driven gear 231 and drives the drawer 200 to move inward or outward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the third position, between the first and second positions, both the second and third planetary gears are disengaged from the driven gear 231. With the above-described structure, the drawer 200 can be opened and closed.

[0085] The second planetary gear has a second friction part, and the housing 21 has a second boss, with the second friction part abutting against the second boss. With this configuration, as the sun gear 222 rotates, it drives the second planetary gear to rotate. Due to the abutting relationship between the second friction part and the second boss, the second planetary gear revolves around the axis of the sun gear 222 while rotating on its own axis, thereby driving the planetary support 221 to rotate from the second position to the first position. In another embodiment, the third planetary gear has a third friction part, and the housing has a third boss, with the third friction part abutting against the third boss. Of course, to increase friction, both the second and third bosses can coexist. Specifically, the structures of the second and third friction parts are the same as the structure of the first friction part.

[0086] It should be noted that, whether it is the meshing between the second and third planetary gears and the driven gear 231, or the meshing between the first planetary gear 223 and the first intermediate gear 236 and the second intermediate gear 237, the centers of the two gears in the meshing state and the center of the sun gear 222 form an obtuse triangle. For example, when the first planetary gear 223 and the first intermediate gear 236 are meshed, the centers of the first planetary gear 223, the first intermediate gear 236, and the sun gear 222 form an obtuse triangle.

[0087] Regarding the structure of the planetary support 221, in this embodiment, optionally, the planetary support 221 includes a bottom support and an upper support connected sequentially from bottom to top, and the sun gear 222 includes a first sun gear and a second sun gear, wherein the outer diameter of the first sun gear is larger than the outer diameter of the second sun gear, and the sun gear 222 is located between the bottom support and the upper support. In this embodiment, by using the above-mentioned structural arrangement, on the one hand, it is beneficial to reduce the total area of ​​the power mechanism 2, reduce the space occupied, and make it more compact; on the other hand, the power mechanism 2 can also play a role in deceleration.

[0088] The planetary support 221 also includes a sun shaft. The housing 21 has a shaft platform with a shaft hole in the center. The sun shaft is located in the shaft hole, and the sun gear 222 passes through the sun shaft. The planetary support 221 is rotatably located on the outer periphery of the shaft platform. This arrangement eliminates friction between the sun gear 222 and the planetary support 221, thereby improving the service life of the planetary support 221.

[0089] Since drawer 200 is located in a sub-zero temperature environment inside the refrigerator, if moisture enters the housing 21, it will freeze. This freezing will significantly affect the smooth operation of the internal gears, potentially preventing them from functioning. Therefore, in this embodiment, optionally, the housing 21 includes a bottom shell 211 and a cover 212. The cover 212 covers the housing 21 and forms a mounting cavity. Optionally, the cover 212 and the bottom shell 211 are screwed together. The power mechanism 2 also includes a sealing assembly 28, which prevents moisture from entering the mounting cavity. The sealing assembly 28 includes a first seal, the bottom shell 211 has a first external hole, and an external connecting shaft 235 is rotatably disposed within the first external hole. The first seal seals the gap between the first external hole and the external connecting shaft 235. Optionally, the first seal can be a skeleton oil seal.

[0090] The sealing assembly 28 also includes a second seal. The bottom shell 211 has a notch, and the bottom shell 211 and the cover 212 at the notch form a second external hole. Cables pass through the second external hole to connect internal and external electronic components. The second seal is used to seal the gap between the cable and the second external hole. Optionally, the second seal can be a rubber ring.

[0091] In addition, the sealing assembly 28 also includes a third seal, which is used to seal the gap between the bottom shell 211 and the cover 212. Specifically, the bottom shell 211 is provided with an annular groove, and the cover 212 and the annular groove form an annular mounting cavity, in which the third seal is disposed. Optionally, the third seal can be a rubber gasket.

[0092] Example 2

[0093] This embodiment also provides a refrigerator, which includes drawers that can be automatically opened and closed as in any of the above embodiments.

[0094] Example 3

[0095] This invention provides an automatic drawer opening and closing method, comprising the following steps: A power component 24 drives a planetary gear train 22 to rotate between a first position and a second position. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the first position, it meshes with a transmission gear set 23 and drives the drawer 200 outward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the second position, it meshes with the transmission gear set 23 and drives the drawer 200 inward. When the planetary gear train 22 is in the third position, it disengages from the transmission gear set 23, at which point the drawer 200 can be manually pushed and pulled freely. When manually pushed and pulled, the drawer 200 may be in different positions. Under these circumstances, when the power component 24 needs to drive the drawer 200 to open or close, the position of the drawer 200 needs to be detected. Additionally, during the process of the power component 24 driving the drawer 200, the position of the drawer 200 also needs to be detected in real time. In this embodiment, the angle detection component 26 can detect the rotation direction and angle of the external connecting shaft 235 to complete the detection of the drawer 200's position. Among them, the external connecting shaft 235 is one of the power shafts that can drive the drawer 200 to move inward or outward. The position of the drawer 200 can be directly determined by the angle and direction of its rotation.

[0096] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drawer that can open and close automatically, used inside a refrigerator, characterized in that: include: Frame (100); Drawer (200), the drawer (200) is slidably disposed on the frame (100); A rack (1) is provided in the drawer (200). Power mechanism (2), the power mechanism (2) is disposed on the frame (100), the power mechanism (2) includes: Shell (21); Planetary gear train (22), which is disposed within the housing (21); A transmission gear set (23) is provided, the output end of which meshes with the rack (1); A power component (24) is located inside the housing (21). When the power component (24) rotates forward or in reverse, it can drive the planetary gear train (22) to rotate between a first position and a second position. When the planetary gear train (22) is in the first position, the output end of the planetary gear train (22) can mesh with the transmission gear set (23) and drive the drawer (200) to move outward. When the planetary gear train (22) is in the second position, the output end of the planetary gear train (22) can mesh with the transmission gear set (23) and drive the drawer (200) to move inward. When the planetary gear train (22) is in the third position between the first position and the second position, the planetary gear train (22) is separated from the transmission gear set (23). The planetary gear train (22) includes: Planetary support (221) is rotatably disposed within the housing (21); A sun gear (222) is rotatably disposed within the housing (21) and is connected to the power component (24) via a transmission. The first planetary gear (223) is rotatably mounted on the planetary support (221) and is connected to the sun gear (222) via a transmission. The transmission gear set (23) includes a driven gear (231) rotatably disposed in the housing (21) and a first intermediate gear (236) and a second intermediate gear (237) meshing with the driven gear (231). The driven gear (231) can drive the rack (1) to move. When the planetary gear train (22) is in the first position or the second position, the first planetary gear (223) can mesh with the first intermediate gear (236) or the second intermediate gear (237) and drive the drawer (200) to move inward or outward; when the planetary gear train (22) is in the third position, the first planetary gear (223) is separated from both the first intermediate gear (236) and the second intermediate gear (237); The first planetary gear (223) is provided with a first friction part (2231), and the housing (21) is provided with a first boss (213). The first friction part (2231) abuts against the first boss (213).

2. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first boss (213) is made of elastic material.

3. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power mechanism (2) further includes a first stop assembly and / or a second stop assembly. When the planetary gear train (22) rotates from the second position to the first position, the first stop assembly prevents the planetary support (221) from continuing to rotate; when the planetary gear train (22) rotates from the first position to the second position, the second stop assembly prevents the planetary support (221) from continuing to rotate.

4. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power mechanism (2) further includes a position detection component (25) for detecting the position of the planetary support (221).

5. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 4, characterized in that, The position detection component (25) includes a light-blocking element (253) and a photoelectric sensor (254). The light-blocking element (253) is disposed on the planetary support (221), and the photoelectric sensor (254) is disposed on the housing (21). When the planetary support (221) is located in at least one of the first position, the second position, or the third position, the light-blocking element (253) can block the photoelectric sensor (254). or The position detection component (25) includes a magnet (251) and a Hall sensor (252). The magnet (251) is disposed on the planetary support (221), and the Hall sensor (252) is disposed on the housing (21). When the planetary support (221) is located in at least one of the first position, the second position, or the third position, the magnet (251) can be detected by the Hall sensor (252).

6. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power mechanism (2) further includes an angle detection component (26), which is used to detect the rotation direction and angle of the driven gear (231).

7. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 6, characterized in that, The angle detection component (26) includes an annular light shield (263) and two photoelectric sensors (264); the annular light shield (263) is sleeved on the outer connecting shaft (235), and the annular light shield (263) includes a mounting ring (2631) and a plurality of light shielding plates (2632) evenly distributed around the mounting ring (2631); the two photoelectric sensors (264) are spaced apart on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft (235), and the light shielding plates (2632) can block the photoelectric sensors (264). or The angle detection component (26) includes a multi-stage magnetic ring (261) and two Hall sensors (262); the multi-stage magnetic ring (261) is sleeved on the outer connecting shaft (235), and the two Hall sensors (262) are spaced apart on the periphery of the outer connecting shaft (235). The Hall sensors (262) can detect each magnetic pole on the multi-stage magnetic ring (261).

8. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission gear set (23) also includes an overload protector (27), which is located between the drawer (200) and the power component (24).

9. The drawer capable of automatic opening and closing according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The housing (21) includes a bottom shell (211) and a cover (212), the cover (212) covering the housing (21) and forming an installation cavity, and the power mechanism (2) further includes a sealing assembly (28) for preventing moisture from entering the installation cavity.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the drawer that can be automatically opened and closed as described in any one of claims 1-9.

11. A method for automatically opening and closing a drawer, characterized in that, The automatic opening and closing method of the drawer, as described in any one of claims 1-9, comprises the following steps: driving the planetary gear train (22) to rotate between a first position and a second position via a power component (24); when the planetary gear train (22) is in the first position, it can mesh with the transmission gear set (23) and drive the drawer (200) to move outward; when the planetary gear train (22) is in the second position, it can mesh with the transmission gear set (23) and drive the drawer (200) to move inward; when the planetary gear train (22) is in the third position, it is separated from the transmission gear set (23), at which time the drawer (200) can be manually pushed and pulled freely.

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